Mahindra S201 with production body & DRL spied; Name announcement on Dec 1

TeamBHP has come up with a set of new spy images of the Ssangyong Tivoli-based Mahindra S201 sporting what should be the production-spec bodywork. The brand name and design details of the Maruti Vitara Brezza rival will be revealed on 1 December 2018. The market launch will take place in January 2019.

In spite of sharing aplenty with the Ssangyong Tivoli, the Mahindra S201 will have a distinct identity owing to all-new sheet metal, sub-4-metre overall length, and completely revised front and rear fascias. Up front, it features a Mahindra-specific grille with the vertical slats. The sleek headlamps sport L-shaped LED DRLs, while the bumper has a rectangular air dam, all very different from the Tivoli.

At the rear, the Mahindra S201 will look nothing like its South Korean donor. While the Ssangyong features vertically stacked tail lamps, its Indian counterpart will have horizontally positioned units. Moreover, the tailgate will be new and will house the registration plate. The top-spec trim will feature a rear roof spoiler, too.

The Mahindra S201 will be available with two turbocharged engine options - 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel. The former is capable of outputting up to 135.96 PS, while the latter will be shared with the Mahindra Marazzo and develops 121 hp and 300 Nm. A pure electric variant will reportedly follow in 2020.

The Mahindra S201 will offer a long list of the equipment. Various spy images have revealed features like LED headlamps, machined alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, four-wheel disc brakes, seven airbags and ESP.

We'll find out on 1 December if the Ssangyong-based SUV uses the 'Mahindra Inferno' nameplate.

M&M has been quick to launch new products in South Africa soon after their introduction in India. Things shouldn't be any different for the Mahindra S201. Dr Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, has suggested that the company's small SUV will be launched in its home market and its ‘second home’ simultaneously. He said -

We will also launch the S201 in the export market. So, Marazzo we will launch only after we come to a point where we have spare capacity for export, right now we cannot, and S201 we will launch at least in one (export) market immediately.